Get Out: May 27, 2011

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Posted May. 27, 2011 at 2:00 AM

Posted May. 27, 2011 at 2:00 AM

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Soda Mountain Wilderness Council hikes

Every weekend to July 4, SMWC will lead free hikes into the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument area. Participants should bring lunch, snacks, water, rain gear, sun protection and sturdy shoes or boots, depending on hike difficulty. Most hikes involve at least a little off-trail hiking.

All hikes will meet in the upper end of the unpaved parking lot next to Shop ‘N' Kart on Ashland Street in Ashland.

Group sizes vary and are up to each hike leader. Space may be limited. Ask your hike leader for their best estimate of return time. Flora/fauna hazards include poison oak, ticks and rattlesnakes. Attendees must sign a liability waiver at the start. Dogs by prior permission only at the discretion of each hike leader.

For general information, contact Dave Willis at 541-482-8660 or sodamtn@mind.net.

For questions about an individual hike, contact the listed hike leader.

Sunday, June 5: Aquatic ecologist Brian Barr (541-621-7226; brian@geosinstitute.org) and SMWC board member Lori Cooper lead a short, but challenging, round-trip hike along the flat Jenny Creek Canyon rim in Oregon and then down to the spectacular, but little-known Jenny Creek Falls in California. The distance is relatively short (three-plus miles), but some difficult hiking is involved, with very steep, off-trail scrambling from the canyon rim down to the falls and back. Meet at 8:30 a.m.

Sunday, June 12: Southern Oregon University aquatic ecologist Michael Parker (541-552-6796; parker@sou.edu) and SMWC board member Carol Wright lead a moderately difficult, three-mile, off-trail ramble through Fredenburg Meadow and down into the forested Jenny Creek Canyon in the northeastern corner of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Learn about stream ecology, critters and public acquisitions of private land from willing-sellers inside the Monument. Meet at 9 a.m.

Saturday, June 18: Ornithologist Pepper Trail (541-482-9594; ptrail@ashlandnet.net) leads an easy or moderate (your choice) Pacific Crest Trail (and vicinity) hike east of Pilot Rock from Porcupine Gap to Babbitt Gap, Porcupine Meadow, and the Sound-of-Music view from Porcupine Mountain. This hike is in both the Monument and its Soda Mountain Wilderness backcountry. About four miles total; less if you choose the easier route. Some off-trail hiking. Meet at 8:30 a.m.

Saturday, June 25: Sierra Club hike leader Cathy Edwards (541-210-0204; ziglerashland@gmail.com) and Southern Oregon University botanist and SMWC board member Steve Jessup will explore where Rogue Valley oak savannah meets Cascadian conifer forest in the Greensprings Mountain unit of the South Cascades Wilderness proposal northwest of the Greensprings Summit. Some off-trail hiking. Easy-moderate; less than four miles. Meet at 2 p.m. and bring a sack supper.

Sunday, July 3: Sierra Club hike leader Cathy Edwards (541-210-0204; ziglerashland@gmail.com) and terrestrial ecologist and SMWC board member Evan Frost will explore where Rogue Valley oak savannah meets Cascadian conifer forest in the Greensprings Mountain unit of the South Cascades Wilderness proposal northwest of the Greensprings Summit. Some off-trail hiking. Easy-moderate; less than four miles. Meet at 1 p.m. and bring a sack supper.

Lithia Park nature walks

Sundays, Wednesday, Fridays: Through Sept. 30, trained naturalists from the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department will lead 60- to 90-minute nature walks in Lithia Park. The walks start at 10 a.m., rain or shine. Free. No reservations needed. Topics include trees, flowers, birds, climate, geology and park history. Meet at the entrance to Lithia Park across from the Plaza in Ashland. For more information, call 541-552-2264.

Spring guided mushroom hike

Sunday, May 29: Northwest Nature Shop is sponsoring a hike led by local mushroom expert John Teem. The emphasis will be on finding fungi and learning something about identification and the diversity of mushroom species. Edible and poisonous varieties will be discussed. Meet at the store, 154 Oak St., Ashland, at 10:30 a.m. to carpool. Cost is $20 per person. For more information call 541-482-3241.

KS Wild hike

Saturday, June 18: A seven-mile roundtrip hike from Grave Creek to Whisky Creek in the Rogue River Canyon leaves Grave Creek boat ramp at 11:30 a.m. Call Lesley at 541-488-5789 for details and car-pooling information.

Sierra Club backpacking trips

Friday-Sunday, July 8-10: Hike to VIP Pond in Young's Valley portion of the Siskiyou Wilderness. Trek in is 4.3 miles. The second day will feature an eight-mile hike to Raspberry Lake. Day three features a two-mile hike to another lake before hiking out. Trip is limited to 12 people. Carpooling is possible; costs to be shared with drivers. Participants bring their own food. Group will practice Leave No Trace camping. For reservations, email Al Collinet at dewbobal@frontier.com.

Friday-Sunday, July 22-24: Hike along the Pacific Crest Trail near Etna, Calif., to Payne Lake in the Russian Wilderness. Hike in will be three miles, with a short trip to explore Albert and Upper Albert lakes. The second day will feature an eight-mile hike along the PCT. Trip is limited to 12 people. Carpooling is possible; costs to be shared with drivers. Participants bring their own food. Group will practice Leave No Trace camping. For reservations, email Al Collinet at dewbobal@frontier.com.

Native Plant Society outings

Saturday, June 11: Field trip to Woodcock Bog RNA/Rough and Ready Creek Preserve to see late spring serpentine ﬂora at two special locations in the Illinois Valley, hopefully including all the species of rush lily (Hastingsia), a genus found only in Southern Oregon and Northern California. The view of the rare, large-ﬂowered, purple rush lily covering Woodcock Fen is one of the great Klamath Mountain botanical experiences. Hike starts at 9 a.m. and is limited to 15 participants. Email leader Norm Jensen at normjensen@gmail.com to register. Meeting location and details will be sent the week prior to the field trip.

Saturday, June 18: NPSO Fellow Frank Callahan will lead a trip starting at 10 a.m. to see a Hinds walnut site on Bear Creek, followed by trip to see the famous “Tolo Tree,” a gray pine, then a quick jog to the Fort Lane historical site to see the gallery tree and then to Foley Lane for a short but rigorous hike to see both gray pine and California buckeye. Bring a lunch and prepare to carpool. Group size limited; preregistration required. Contact Callahan at 541-855-1164 or callahanseeds@gmail.com .

Saturday, July 16: Walk between walls of tower larkspur and monkshood to the top of Grizzly Peak, and then check out the summer bloom along the loop trail. Distance is five miles with an elevation gain of 1,350 feet. Meet 9 a.m. behind the Oil Stop on Ashland Street, just west of the BiMart/Shop ‘n' Kart parking lot in Ashland. Leader is Alex Maksymowicz. Call 541-482-1964 for details.

Lake of the Woods runs

Saturday, June 4: 15K and 5K runs start at 9:30 a.m. The 15K will make a circuit around the lake on paved highways. The 5K is an out-and-back course. A walk and children's dash will also be held. Entry costs $15, or $25 with a long-sleeved T-shirt, by May 20. Add $2 for race-day registrations. Go to www.skylakes.org for details or call 541-882-6311, ext. 4768.

Eagle Point Centennial Bike Ride

Saturday, June 11: Three rides include a mostly flat 10K route entirely within town; a 50K (31 miles) that goes out to Lake Creek and back; and a 100K loop that takes in Lake Creek, White City, TouVelle and Sams Valley. Cost is $10 for the 10K, $15 for the 50K and $20 for the 100K. For details, call 541-362-1352 or email epbike@yahoo.com.

Group bike rides for beginners

Saturdays, through June 11: If you've ever wanted to learn the ins and outs of group riding, but felt intimidated about jumping into a pace line with a bunch of lycra-clad hard bodies, Siskiyou Velo Club has just the ticket. The club is holding beginner-friendly group rides on the Bear Creek Greenway through June 11. The rides cover about 14 miles at an easy pace, with a cuppa along the way. The goal will be to learn the basics of group riding and group etiquette, with a focus on relaxed socializing. All of the rides start at 10 a.m. For other details, call Phil Gagnon at 541-488-4289; Steve Juul at 541-535-1435; or Sandra Wetzel at 541-482-2995.

Recurring road rides

Every Saturday: A brisk, two- to four-hour ride begins at 10 a.m. at Cycle Sport in Medford. The course changes from week to week. Call ride leader Alex Hayes for details at 541-857-0819.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, Ashland: Rides organized by the crew at Ashland Cycle Sport, 191 Oak St., Ashland. Meet at the Plaza in Ashland at 6:30 p.m. Riders of all abilities are welcome on the Tuesday ride, which usually lasts until dark. The Thursday ride is usually longer (2 to 2 1/2 hours) and faster paced. Lights are highly recommended. Helmets and a safe, functioning bike are required. Call Scott at 541-488-0581 for further information. Website is at www.roguecycle.com.

Every Wednesday, Jacksonville: Starting at 6 p.m., Cycle Analysis hosts a two-hour ride on either the Britt trails in Jacksonville or nearby John's Peak, which has almost 200 miles of trails. All comers are welcome — no age or ability limits. Helmets are mandatory and lights are required during the winter. Contact Jana Jenson at 541-899-9190, or e-mail cyclea@internetcds.com.

Klamath Bird Observatory

Friday-Saturday, June 3-4: Birding By Ear Workshop and Field Trip. With a focus on intermediate to advanced skills, group will practice identifying warbler, finch and flycatcher vocalizations and will distinguish sound-alike species such as western tanager and black-headed grosbeak. Instruction in the classroom and field will be provided by John Alexander, KBO executive director. June 3 class is 7 to 9 p.m. at the Jefferson Nature Center in Medford. June 4 field trip is 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a location to be announced. Advance registration required. Limited to 20 participants. Cost is $25 members, $35 nonmembers. To register, call 541-201-0866.

Saturday, June 11: Family-friendly birding at the Jefferson Nature Center. Group will learn how to use binoculars and field guides and about some of the bird species common to the Rogue Valley. All ages welcome. Meet at 10 a.m. at Wild Birds Unlimited, 712 Crater Lake Ave., Medford. Limited to 20 participants. To register, call 541-770-1104.

Saturday, July 9: Birdwalk to Soda Mountain with KBO contractor Frank Lospalluto for high-elevation birding along the Pacific Crest Trail. Group will likely see many songbirds that breed at higher elevations, including Nashville warbler, warbling vireo, western tanager and purple and Cassin's finch. Pileated woodpecker, red-breasted sapsucker, red crossbill, and mountain quail are also possibilities. Meet at 8 a.m. at Wild Birds Unlimited, 712 Crater Lake Ave., Medford. Limited to 15 participants. To register, call 541-770-1104.

Siskiyou Mountain Club

June 13-30: The Siskiyou Mountain Club is looking for volunteers to help with a Trans-Kalmiopsis Trail project in June. Volunteers will hike into a remote base camp and work for seven to nine days between June 13 and June 30 before returning to the Vulcan Lake Trailhead, 30 miles east of Brookings. Volunteers should be physically fit and adventure-driven. See the Volunteer Corner at http://siskiyoumountainclub.org for details, maps and sign-ups.

Native Plant Society Wildflower Show

Monday, July 4: The Siskiyou Chapter's annual wildflower show will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Ashland Community Center, 59 Winburn Way, in Ashland. The show will highlight the variety of native flowers that can be found in bloom near Ashland in early July. For more info, call Jim Duncan 541-482-7629.